Life is good and God is faithful. And … ooftah. Sometimes I whisper, Really? Is life good and is God faithful? Then I say out loud, Yes. Really. It is and He is. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. (Psalm 117:2) One of the really cool things about this amazing God is that how we feel doesn’t change who He is. Because He is God, He is faithful. And because He is faithful, life is good. But I bet you’ll agree with me here … some days it’s just tough to stay in synch, right? It’s Continue Reading
Once Upon a Time
When the story begins with Once upon a time …, we instinctively settle into the pillows a little deeper. We wonder where the characters will lead us and what the hero looks like. We lean closer to listen because the storyteller almost always whispers the story. It seems … magical. Little children love to hear their names as the main characters, don’t they? The first time we include their sweet name, they perk up and squeal, That’s me! They love being part of the story. Once upon a time can remind us of giants and bean stalks. Of a Continue Reading
Sheep Have it Made
Did you have a pet when you were younger? Perhaps a dog or a cat or a horse? I had a pig. His name was George. My sister, Julie, also had a pet pig. It was also named George. (Our dad’s name was George. I know. I don’t understand it either.) My goodness, how we worked at taking care of those pigs. One lesson I learned very quickly in my pet pig season was that it was very hard to keep it clean. When we prepared to show them in 4-H competitions, I would brush and scrub and sprinkle baby powder on mine. Julie would clean hers real good Continue Reading
I Got This
This note of encouragement comes from something I wrote several years ago. Its message has been bouncing around in my head lately, and I knew it was something I wanted and needed to share with you. We were moving my friend when this was written. You know what that means … lots of ugh’s. Right? May your heart be encouraged! **** I’ve got this. If my nephew Scottie said it once, he said it a hundred times. I’ve got this. They were the best words of the day. No, of the week. Perhaps the month. Moving from one home to another Continue Reading
You Are Famous
The movie credits splash the names of the stars across the screen. We know who they are; they are the people who producers depend on to get us into the theaters. The biggies. But you know, I’m more intrigued by those whose names show up in smaller fonts. The actors whose parents lean forward in their red cushion theater seats and squint their eyes to watch for their son’s or daughter’s name roll up at the very bottom of the list, long after everyone else has left the theater. Sally Jones…Townsperson #1 Ruth Peterson…Bystander #2 Mary Continue Reading
Permission to Perch
“Oh! The places you’ll go! You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.” * Words like that should be printed in multiple colors and fancy fonts with lots of loops, right? Dr. Seuss certainly knew how to use phrases to invite and encourage us to move forward. He was writing prompts for entering the new year that are more stimulating than most memes! (As a side note, his frequent use of exclamation points is one of the reasons he’s a favorite of mine.) And … Some of us may Continue Reading
I See You
We were celebrating my nephew’s birthday. Danny was turning two. His afternoon was filled with little kids’ birthday party favorites -- cake, presents, streamers, lots of noise – attention. I realized I hadn’t seen his older brother around, so I went looking for 4-year old David. I found him sitting on the top step of the stairway, removed from the celebration, crying his little heart out. Through deep staccato sobs and a snotty nose, David explained, “It’s hard for someone like me when it’s not my birthday.” Bless him. That was over Continue Reading
My Mom
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). This verse was mom’s favorite, and we have repeated it over and over and over again during the last month. Last Friday, my mom died. It was a peaceful home-going without any pain. Mom’s heart has been getting weaker over the last few months, and three weeks ago we brought hospice care into her home. That care was so helpful and loving, and my sisters Julie and Lori and Continue Reading
Leave This Guest At Home
It’s the guest many of us bring to Thanksgiving dinner. The guest that can turn a beautiful get-together into frustrations and silent tears and sour attitudes. Expectations. Yup. Expectations. The guest we invite that all too often lets us down. We want the Norman Rockwell feast around the table with everyone using kind words. Everyone on time and helping. And our football team wins. But… The rolls get burned. The turkey is dry. Cousin Bobby sulks. Aunt Mary speaks harsh zingers. Half the group eats, burps, and heads for the Continue Reading
Thermostat or Thermometer?
Last week I wrote a little note about grumbling. As in, we aren’t to do it. Here’s a follow-up thought. My sisters and I are very grateful that we can stay with mom as caregivers, walking this Alzheimer’s journey with her. AND … some of my best grumbling (which is actually my worst grumbling, if you know what I mean) takes place in her apartment. You see, mom likes it warm in her apartment. Very warm. Like in 80˚ warm. In the middle of summer. Have mercy. We set the thermostat lower, but she gets so cold that she shivers. Continue Reading
When Life Gets Messy
Easy. Carefree. I think about those words and in my mind I see a sandy beach with gentle waves lapping, a cool breeze that doesn’t mess up my hair, bright sunshine that warms my skin, and a good book with a happy ending. Yup. I sure could be content there. If only life was one big sunny beach. Real life happens and sometimes my hair gets mussed and my skin sunburns and there’s not a happy ending in the book. There are moments when I think, “This isn’t what I signed up for.” My sisters and I take turns staying with our mom. Continue Reading
Something Wonderful is About to Happen
I’m always surprised when I don’t die when I’m exercising. Especially when it involves burpees. I don’t like burpees, and I don’t believe our bodies were meant to do them. My morning exercise time is only 30-40 minutes, but the way I carry on, you’d think that I’d been at it for 37 hours with no break. (And I can’t begin to count the number of times that I flop to the floor, and dramatically whisper through parched lips as if it’s my last breath, I caaaaan’t!) I have forgotten … Exercising is a temporary event. For 40 minutes I Continue Reading
Learning from the Farmers
I learned it first in farming. Farmers and families coming together when the fields were ready for harvest and the rain was coming tomorrow as sure as the sun comes up. Trucks and combines moving across dusty gravel roads in single file and descending on someone’s farm to help them get their crop in. The John Deeres and Massey Fergusons caravanning to the next farm with ears tuned in to weather reports while turning on lights to break through the dusk, and men and women in overalls praying for just a couple more hours. People came Continue Reading
Look for the Color
For your consideration ... Is life looking a little gray? Try making this little shift ... Look for the color. Literally. Look for the colors around you. When we start seeing bright colors, we wake up! Things seem more interesting. Life looks different. The reminder came to me as I sat in the corner chair in mom’s apartment. It had been a long night of ups-and-downs as mom tried to fall asleep. Looking out the window I saw clouds and rain. Gray. My day was scheduled too tightly. Gray. I was tired. Gray. My little world was ... Continue Reading
Panic During The Biggest Game
In honor of the Super Bowl this weekend, I’m sharing a reader’s favorite from the 2014 game. Enjoy! Biggest Game of the Year. I’m talking football. Super Bowl. And I take my football quite seriously. Continue Reading
Deer Hunting in Mom’s Words
It’s the story that has made its way around emergency rooms, hospital rooms, recovery rooms, and pre-op rooms. Doctors and specialists and nurses and anesthesiologists throughout the Twin Cities United Health system have heard it. Mom’s doctor can tell it verbatim. It’s Mom's Deer Hunting Story. For whatever reason, whenever Mom has had a health issue that has required strong pain medicine or laughing gas, she starts telling anyone and everyone who will listen...The Deer Hunting Story. In those moments, she’s feeling very relaxed Continue Reading
This is Livin’!
It’s how my dad lived his life… Creating “This is livin’!” moments. I don’t think I ever heard dad complain. About anything. And I know I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. Ever. He was too busy looking for the good. What an awe-inspiring way to live. Dad really loved life. He found joy in the little things. A good piece of pie. A good (very weak) cup of coffee. Fishing with the grandkids. Eating vanilla ice cream while watching the Minnesota Vikings on TV. Listening to the Twins on the radio. Talking with his Continue Reading
Asking for a John Deere
I learned it first in farming. Farmers and families coming together when the fields were ready for harvest and the rain was coming tomorrow as sure as the sun comes up. Trucks and combines moving across dusty gravel roads in single file and descending on someone’s farm to help them get their crop in. Then the John Deeres and Massey Fergusons caravanning to the next farm with ears tuned in to weather reports while turning on lights to break through the dusk and men and women in overalls praying for just a couple more hours. People Continue Reading
In Memory of Aunt Idelle
My Aunt Idelle (dad's sister) was always full of life, focused on family, and brought the energy and spirit to every room she entered. She died on Friday, and although we will miss her terribly, she has left her fingerprints on so many hearts. A few years ago I wrote a short tribute to her. I'm sharing it again in honor of her memory. Aunt Idelle, you will never be forgotten. Thank you for loving so deeply. She’s 83. She lives in an apartment for senior citizens. She’s got more life than the energizer bunny.Meet my aunt, Idelle Continue Reading
Hanging By One String
It was a freak accident. Twenty years ago. Our good friend, Patti, had just moved into an adorable townhouse that sat on the edge of a golf course. She was sitting in a lawn chair enjoying the summer sun when the you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up event happened. A golf ball hit very hard from somewhere on the green went way off course and landed… On her eye. The result? The eye was struck by such force that they had to remove everything inside the eye. They saved the retina and the cornea. But they implanted a lens, attaching it with Continue Reading
Starting a Different Life
Starting a different life. It doesn’t require a complete life overhaul. My sisters and I take turns staying with mom to help her out. If we aren’t in the room with her when she needs something, she sings out, Whoo hoo! Not a big deal when it’s daylight. But when I hear Whoo hoo! at 4:00 a.m. in the morning, I fling myself out of the trundle bed and already have an emergency plan in place by the time I tumble into her bedroom. A few mornings ago, the flinging and tumbling were part of my early a.m. activities. She wasn’t sick. Continue Reading
Learned Early and Often
Hello, Friends! I’m excited to introduce you to my new friend, Connie Miller Pease. She has written and published a delightful book, Mrs. Covington’s Sunday School Dropouts. I’ve invited her to share some of her beautiful writings with us today. Enjoy! I’m rambling tonight. Indulge me. God’s kindness is beyond what we ask or imagine. We ask for some small thing that we think we need or want and He gives us that and something better besides. We ask for help and we find it in surprising places. We ask for healing and are provided with Continue Reading
Mud and my Planks
It was a trip back home with Steve and our good friends, Pam and Barry. I was truly in My Happy Place as I showed off my hometown of Climax, MN. Once we saw “the town” and they graciously listened to me speak excitedly, passionately, at 7,148 words per minute about the people, events and wonderful memories, it was time to show them “our land.” Sooo excited about this. We drove onto the narrow dirt road between the fields a mile out of town, noticing that it was still quite muddy from last night’s rain. And then it got muddier. And Continue Reading
Vacation…Time for Happy
All good things must come to an end. Why? Who decided that? The poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to say it in 1374. (It’s a good thing that he also wrote the classic book, The Canterbury Tales. Those stories are certainly brighter than his all good things statement.) That statement kept circling in my mind at the end of our vacation earlier this week. Boy. It’s tough to get back to the daily normal after days filled with lots of sunshine, naps, good food, longer walks, more time on the porch, more good books, limited Continue Reading
The Best Version of Me
Blog Alert: This post is a Proud Auntie moment! My niece, Kelsey Charron, has started her own blog. One of her first notes frames my thoughts for these comments. Life. It requires so many decisions, doesn’t it? Family choices about elderly parent’s care. Business choices about direction. Personal choices about priorities. And then it’s time to get out of bed. So as I was thinking last week about what to do, what to do, what to do… Kelsey’s writing reminded me of the importance of who to be, who to be, who to Continue Reading